AGAWAM — The Agawam Zero Waste Club, Agawam High School’s SAVE Club and National Honor Society are hosting the ninth annual Holiday Used Toy Exchange. This event was created to become a source of holiday gifts for residents on tight budgets, as well as increase the lifespan of consumer goods which are discarded long before their usefulness is waned.
Chair Nancy Bobskill of the Agawam Zero Waste Club was an environmental science teacher at Agawam High School for eight years. She loves working with students and appreciates seeing how much joy they get from participating in community service.
“The goal is to promote reuse and to promote community; the idea of making reuse normal,” Bobskill said. “While it really helps people on a tight budget, this is an event that’s open to everyone. It’s the joy of being a community and having an event that promotes sharing.”
Gently used, clean, working toys may be dropped off at the Agawam Public Library on Friday, Dec. 6, from 12-4:30 p.m. Gently used toys wanted include: musical instruments, action figures, dolls, sports equipment, books, bicycles, electronics, video games, DVDs, stuffed animals, model kits, art supplies, building toys, creative learning toys, outdoor toys and structures, games, puzzles and baby toys. No dirty, broken, or incomplete toys will be accepted. All donations should be inspected before being dropped off. The general public free shopping for these gently used toys will be on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
In order to share with as many families as possible, families will be limited to an amount they are able to carry in one trip to their vehicle. Shoppers are asked to bring their own reusable shopping bag, as this is a zero-waste event. Any toys remaining will be donated to local charities. Children should not be brought into the shopping area, so that each toy will be a surprise. An exciting activity will be available to children while adults shop.
“It’s really important to make the concept of reuse normal,” Bobskill said, “It’s a way to keep used toys out of the landfill by giving them a new home. That’s a wonderful thing.” She continued, “It will be a fun event. There’s a lot of things that are going on in the world and it’s good to balance that with some happy things that are going on and the wonderful things students are doing to make the world a better place.”
The Agawam Public Library is located at 750 Cooper St. For more information, visit agawam.ma.us under the events column or email Bobskill at AgawamZeroWaste@gmail.com.
